Light-source support



A ix-i124. 192s. A. H. HANDLAN LIGHT SOURCE SUPPORT Filed Feb.6. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l Arm/Mfrs April 24, 1928.

A. H. HANDLAN LIGHT SOURCE SUPPORT Filed Feb.6. 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 2 A rra/ews vs w April 24. 1928.

A. H. HANDLAN LIGHT SOURCE SUPPORT Filed Feb. 6. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 //Yl /Y7'0/? A. //A NOLAN B v M W ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 24, 1928 uNirei) STATES ALEXANDER H. HA D-LAN, or ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI. I r

r LIGHT-sconce s rroR'r.

Application filed. February. 6, 1921;; ser ai no. send.

This invention relates generally to, light source supports, and particularly'to anadjustabl'e light source support whichinay be I adjusted in atesting stand or testing lampso that when said light source support is in use ina signal lamp, such asthoseused on railroads, theiilanient of the electricbulb which is associated with saidlight source support "will be in the exact focusof the lens of said signal lamp. y

At the present day a very great number of oil-burning signal lamps are employed on railroads. The introduction of tlie precision type of lamp bulb has made possible the use of electricity for lighting railway signal lamps, andbecause o't-the greater efliciencyof theelectricisignal lamps those operators, of railroad systems who have been using oil signal lamps are desirous of replacing them with electric signal lamps. In most cases, however, these operators have large stocks of oil-burning signal lamps ;on hand which, previous to this invention, would have to be'discarded as useless in the event that said oil-burning lamps were replaced by electric signal lamps, and this loss has prevented to a? great extent the universal adoption of the more eflicient signalingmeansr V i i i In view of the foregoing Ih'ave evolved the light source support disclosed in the presentapplication, which may be aptly doscribed as an adapter, due to the fact that the use of said light source support converts an. oil-burning signallamp into an electric signal lamp, 7 I

To obtain satisfactory results in the; use of a precision type electric bulb in a signal lamp'the filament of the bulb inust 'be located with precision in the focal center of the lens and an important feature of my invention resides in the fact that my improved -supporting device includes means whereby the bulb maybe adjustedjtobring' I the filament thereof into the proper position with respect to the len'sot the lampf The purpose of the present invention, therefore, is to produce a. hght source support wh ch capable of being introduced into' the housing of a signal lamp of the oil-burning ty Le to'permit the use of electric lamp bul s therein and which is soficonstructed and arranged that said light source support'may be adjusted either in a testing stand or test ing lamp previousto beingplaced in a Sig nallamp in service or in the service lamp" itself to properly positioni the "filament of Another object of my invention is-to pro duce alight source supporting unit which includesas an element thereof a reflector.

the bulb with respect to thelensof the lamp.

In this form of the "inventionadjusti'ng -means are provided whereby-the filament of in the'exact focus the bulb may be located of the reflector;

Fig-LI is a rear elevation of my -improved light source support. Y

Fig. II is a-fragmentary view, partly in,

side elevation and p'artlyin vertical section, showing my imp'roved'light source support arranged in a sheet metal signal lam F ig. III is a fragmentary vertical section Fig. IV'is' a. plan viewf my improved Fig. VIis a cross section on line FigJVII is i a fragmentary sectional detail 'showingfon'ejo f the adjustingscrewsl ofv my improved devicek W t l Fig. VIII is a fragmentary view, partly in vertical sectionand; partly in elevation,

showing a second form invention arranged within: a cast ironsignallampr i Fig. IX'is acrossjsection on line erri pvin.

In Fig. II ofthe'drawings, A designatej's i I a sheetinetal signal lamp which comprises a side *wau B, a bottom'wall Gya vertically is fixed in place in the lens opening ofthe lamp in any suitable manner, andthe constructionof thelampis the usual a nd or 'din'ary coiistructionof lamps of the type illustrated. i

, Located within the lantern A is my im proved light sourcesupporti'fjwhich comprisesa base membe ril which, as is shown in FigsgIII and 'IV,has considerable width. Extended upwardly from the base member 1 adjacentfto the" forward edge thereof isa fpjairof entensionsfl having each w threadd i "opening 3 formed therethrough. The extensions-2 arepreferably, :though not necessa- ,rily, formed integral with the base n 1ember.

and said extensions are' elifid with each other in a direction transversely of said base member 1. v

4 designates a bracket comprising a base plate 5 and a supplemental supporting plate 6, said plates overlapping each other as shown clearly in Figs. 11 and V and being rigidly fixed together by means of a pair of screws or other suitable fastening devices 7; In producing my improved support I prefer to form the support 6 of fiber or other material of a non-conducting nature and to make the base plate 5 of a suitable metal. v 8 designates a sleeve which extends upwardly from the support 6 at the rear end portion thereof, said sleeve having an integral laterally extended flange 9 through which a fastening device, preferably a screw 10, passes.

The screw lO is screwed into a threaded opening in the fibrous support 6, whereby said sleeve is rigidly fixed to said plate. 11 designates a bolt which passes upwardly through an aperture in the supporting plate 6, the head portion 11 of said bolt being in contact with the bottom face of said support 6 and the shank portion of said bolt passing through an aperture in the flange 9. 12 designates a pair of nuts arranged one above the other on the shank portion of the bolt 11, the lowermost nut of said nuts 12 being in firm contact with the top face of the flange 9 whereby the bolt 11 functions as an additional fastening device for securing the sleeve 8 to the plate 6. 13 designates a nut which is arranged above the nuts 12 on the shank portion of the bolt 11, the'last mentioned nut being adapted to be screwed downwardly on the bolt. 11 to grip an electric conductor 1) between said nut 13 and-the uppermost nut 12, whereby, in addition to aiding the fastening device 10 in securing the sleeve 8 to the plate 6, said bolt 11 functions as a binding post which electrically connects the conductor 5 to the fiange9. The sleeve 8 is split, as shown in Fig. IV,

and extended into said sleeve is an electric socket 14 adapted to receive-an electric lamp bulb 15. .16 designates a screw extended through ears 17 formed on the sleeve 8 at an aperture in the supporting plate 6. The

head portion 19 of the bolt 19 is in contact withthe lower'face of the contact member 18, and a pair of nuts 20 are screwed on the threaded shank portion of said bolt in such manner that the lowermost nut 20 is in firm contact with the top face of the sleeve supporting plate 6. 2ldesignates a nut screwed on the shank portion of the bolt 19, said nut 21 being adapted to be screwed into firm is in contact with said pin 22, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. His plain, in view of the arrangement just described, that electrical energy passing through the conductor a will pass throughthe bolt 19 into and through the contact member 18, said energy I passing from said contact member through the pin 22 in the socket 14 to the filament of the electric bulb. The electrical circuit through which electrical energy is caused to pass to the electric bulb 15 includes the,con ductor b which is grounded to the. sleeve 8 through the instrumentality of the bolt 11 and nuts 12 and 13.

.By referring now to Fig. VI it will be noted that the base 5 is provided with a pair of elongatedapertures 25 which are spaced apart fromeach other and are alined with each other in a direction longitudinal of said plate. When my improved device is in an assembled. condition the base 5 is arranged with respect to the base member 1 so that the elongated openings 25 are in vertical alinement with the threaded openings 3 in the extensions 2 formed on' said base member 1. Extended'through the elongated 0penings'25 and screwed into the threaded openings 3 in the extensions 2 is a pair of screws 26, there being suitable washers, in terposed between the head portions of said screws and the adjacent portions of the top face-of the base 'Extended through threaded openings 27 formed through the base 5 is apair of screws 28. are spaced apart from each other and are alined with each other ina direction longitudinally of the base 5, and the lower end of each of said screwsbears against the top face of the base member 1, as shown in Figs. II and V. v

Inexplaining the use of my improved light sourcesupport it will be assumed. first that the light source supports are being adjusted for use in sheet metal signal lamps of the type illustrated in Fig. II. In other words,.it will be considered that sheet metal signal lamps provided withmeans for burning oil are beingconverted intoelectric signal lamps, the oilburning apparatus and the oil reservoirs, etc., formerly associated with said signal lamps having been removed therefrom, leaving only the guide members 29 shown in Fig. III.

Each of the light source supports which are to be placed in sheet metal signal lamps The screws 28 laterallywith resp'ecttothe signallamp-the maybe adjusted previous to being placed in a lamp so that the filament of the associated electric bulb will be in .the exact focusof the lens of the lamp,-and thisfadjnstment is effected in the following manner: Either at the factory where the 1 light source supports are made or at the shop of the railroad which to use the supports a testing stand, or testing lamp, is maintained. This testing stand, or testing lamp, isan exact counterpart of the sheet metal signal lamps inso faras dimensions are concerned,

and said sheet metal lamps are of course all It is plain, therefore, that if a standard. hg'htsource support havmg an QlQC b11C; "bLlllI) associated therewith is ad usted: in the .testing stand, or testing lamp, so that the-filament of said bulb in the exact focus of the lens of said testing stand, or testing lamp, saidlight source support may be re moved from the testing stand, or testing lamp and be arranged in any sheet metal signal lamp of the same size and type as i the testing stand or testing lamp, and the filament of the bulb will be in exactly the proper position with respect to; the lens of the last mentioned lamp to obtain thegreat est efficiency. i

To adjust the light source support an electric lamp "bulb is arranged in the socket 1 1' and thesupport is then arranged in' a testing stand, .or testing lamp." The screws 26 and 28 are then manipulatedttoxmove the bracket 4 so as to' bring the filament of .the 'electric lamp bulb supported by said bracket to the proper position. For instance, assume that the filament of theelectrieibulb were slightly below the exacttcen ter ,of the lens." In this event the screws 26 would be rotated in 21f direction to cause the heads of said'screws to be moved.:up-'

wardly from the top face of the base after which the screws. QSwo'uld be rotated in a direction to cause the entire bracket-{l and the bulb "15 to beunoved upwardly until the filament of. the bulb is in-the proper position. 'Also, if it be assumed *tbat' th c filament of the bulbis too far away from or too close to the lens to be in the proper focus thereof, the screws 28 wouldlrbe mag nipulated; or if the filament of the ,bulb be offset from its proper position in a direction bracket l would be tipped by causing, the head of one or the other of the screws 26 to be lower than the associated s rew-. 26. lVhen either of the screws 28 is being manipulated to adjust the bracket 4, said bracket together with the bulb supported 7 thereby pivots about'the lower end of the associated screw 28, and when either of the screws 26 is manipulated to adjust the bulb laterally of the signal lantern said bracket and bulb pivot about the lower ends of both of the screws 28. WVhen an adjustment has been made andithe filamentof the bulb brought to the desired position the screws 26 are screwed downwardly so as to cause thehead portions thereof "tobear firmly against the top face of the base 5, whereby accidental movement of said plate,-wl1ich'would destroy the adjustment thereof, is prevented.

It is apparent in viewof theforegoing that an electric lamp bulb supported by my improved light source support is capable of universalmovement whereby the filament of saidelectrie bulb may be located in the exact focus of rthellens'of the testing stand,

or testing lamp v V Inthe use of my improved light source support I prefer to employ theso-called pre cision electric bulbs. These bulbsiareso 1 made that their *filamentsare' universally positioned inexa'ctly the proper relation to i the geometric centers of the bulbs, and therefore if the light source is adjusted so that the filament of one precision bulb is ,in proper relation with respect to the lens of the signal lamp, said precision bulb may then be removed fromv the lamp and other precision bulb-s located therein, and because the filaments of all of the precision bulbs are properly positioned within the. bulbs all of said filamentswill be in the exact focus of the lens of the lamp. It is plain, therefore, that the light source support is adjusted with a precision lamp bulb associated therewith, after which said support is arranged'in a signal lamp, and thereafter wheneverthe electric bulb burns out or is to be replacedfor any other reason,a new precision bulbv may be arranged within the signal lamp with its filament in th eproper focus ofthe lens ofthe lamp without. again adjusting the light source support. .It isapparent,'fhowever, that ordinary ccmn'iercial shapen, and therefore when my improved lus bulbs may be used, and inthis event the light source support Wlll be ad usted either n a testing stand or testing lampor'in the lid light source support is usedjwithin cast -iron, signal lamps I "for'm'a plurality, pref erably' four, threaded apertures 30 through {the base member 1 of theflightsource sup each of i the threaded openings is a screw31 ,said screws I having each a. pointed lovfir end portion which contacts with the bottonrwall of the port. Extended through signallamp. When my. device is providedjy with the screws 3land the bottom wall of the lamp is not perfectly level, said screws may bemanipulated, to bring the base mem ber 1 toexactly the proper level position. To providefor free movement of the base member 1 relative to the bottom wall of the lamp, I providesaid base member with a bottom face 1 having tapered corner portions and thereby eliminate any chance that the corners of the base member will strike the bottom wall of the lamp and interfere with the movement of said base member.

In Fig. VIII also I illustrate the form of my invention which includes a reflector 32 forming a part of the light source support:- ing unit. The form of the invention which includes a reflector is intended for use with a lamp provided with a roundel E instead of a lens. T he reflector may beot any suitable type and is preferablysupportedby a frame 33 which is secured directly to the base member 1 in any convenient manner, so that the light source support and the reflector comprise a complete unit. Reflectors of the type used with my light source support are merely molded and consequently thefocal Centers of said reflectors are not uniformly located and for this reason I arrange the bracket 4 of the form of the invention shown in Fig. VIII so that it is capable of being adjusted by manipulating the screws 26 and 28. In this manner the filament of the bulbrl5 associated with the light supporting unit may be positioned in the exact focus of the reflector forming a part of said light supporting unit.

The means for adjusting the bracket 4 is an exact counterpart of the means for adjusting the bracket 4; shown in Figs. II and V and for that reason need not be described in detail.

i In connection with the use of the form of the invention shown in Fig. VIII, precision bulbs may be used in which event the bracket 4: need be adjusted only once after which other precision bulbs may be associated with the light source support from time to time without readjusting said bracket. However, when ordinary co1nmercia-l bulbs are employed it will be neces sary to readjust the bracket 4 each time a new bulb is introduced.

I claim: I

1. A device for focusing a lamp relatively to a reflector, comprising, in combination, a support having apertures therein, adjusting members extending through the apertures, a fibrous supporting plate secured to and offset from the support, a lamp supporting 1e su ortbein o )erabie b 7 means a in the support. the member being provided With a head tor hunting the upward movement of the support relatively to'the base, an annular contraction formed intermediately between the ends of the passageway in the support, the diameter of the contraction being approximately the same as the diameter of the rigid member extending upwardly from the base, whereby the lamp support is free to tilt relatively to the rigid member and the base, but is held against 1 sidewise .movement relatively thereto, and means forimparting tilting adjustment to the support.

3. A device for use in focusing a lamp relatively to a reflector comprising, in combination, a base, a lampsupport disposed above the base for adjustment relatively thereto, a rigid member extending upwardly fronrthe base througha passageway formed int-he support, the memberbeing provided with a head for-limiting the upward movement of the: support relatively to the base,

an annular contraction formed intermediately between the ends of the passageway 1n the support, the diameter of the contraction be- I ingapproximately the same as the diameter o't'the rigid member extending upwardly from the base, whereby the lamp support is free to tiltrelatively to the rigid member and the base, butis held against sidewise movement relatively thereto, and means for imparting tilting adjustment to the support, said means comprisinga plurality of members spaced from the rigid member, adapted to abut against the base and to have screw threaded engagement with the lamp support.

Intestimony that l claim the foregoing I hereunto afiix my signature.

ALEXANDER H. Haunting 

